My passion is to support the 'nutrition the missing jigsaw piece' for our nutritionally vulnerable. I hope you find these articles helpful for the benefit of improving health and well-being within the communities you work?

Potential nutrition and health areas For poverty & health inequalities It is complex.

For Foodbanks First Steps Nutrition Trust (2017) on Information for Food Banks: Supporting pregnant women and families with infants'This resource is designed for volunteers and those who run food banks with information on supporting pregnant women and women with infants and young children who may use their services. It explains why donations of infant formula should not be accepted and given out and how to signpost families to additional support and benefits they may be eligible for'.

For Healthy Start welfare food schemeSet up in the UK in 2006 to target the most vulnerable under 4's nutritional needs. It is an unused resource. Offers free milk, fruit and vegetables with Healthy Start vouchers for; pregnant and under 18, pregnant or have children under the age of four families on certain benefits. For more information www.healthystart.nhs.uk/ and www.firststepsnutrition.org/healthy-start/

For holiday hunger clubs, after school clubs, play groups there are great practical ideas to support above from Dietitian Helen Crawley’s Charity First Steps Nutrition Trust https://www.firststepsnutrition.org/eating-well-resources/. It is an excellent website for quality resources for under 5's.

For Community cafésFood Standards Agency (2018) on Providing food at community and charity events 'Food supplied, sold or provided at charity or community events, such as street parties, school fetes or fundraisers, must comply with EU food law and be safe to eat. Guidance from Food Standard Agency on providing food in a village hall or other community setting for volunteers and charity groups includes advice on registration, certificates and allergen information'.

OtherFood is Food, but food choices are increasing being linked to moral values with spiritual language like; sins, cheats, good, bad, raw, purity, guilt, with 'clean eating' even creating a moral hierarchy for food and odd food beliefs. It is a concern from both a mental health and physical health perspective as can contribute to distorted thinking patterns and unhealthy relationships with food.

Nutrition trainingA range of nutrition training is available. See Training For bespoke, just ask.